John P. Hale for President:

Friend Douglass:—I have time now to say but a word. It is evident that the Vermont friends of freedom mean to support John P. Hale for the Presidency. That is their intention now, subject to the decision of the National Convention, Aug. 11th, at Pittsburgh.

In your paper of July 16th, your Corresponding Editor, John Thomas, regards Hale as unsound on the slavery question; because, "acknowledging its LEGAL claims, he would but REGULATE its manifestations."

Is it even so? Is that Mr. Hale's position? The friends of freedom in this section think that it is not so. I have not the documents on hand to meet them. Probably Mr. Thomas can lay his hands on the proof.—Will he do so, and let us see what is, as speedily as possible? I am welcomed here. I preached three times in this town last Sabbath, July 18th, and last evening. Monday—farmers from the bay fields filled the Town House to hear about the position of the Liberty Party, as understood in the State of New York.

Yours in haste,

J. R. JohnsonJohnson, James Rawson

Probably the frequent correspondent of Frederick Douglass’ Paper, James Rawson Johnson, an African American abolitionist from Syracuse, New York. Johnson was a supporter of the Liberty party and the religious abolitionist cause, as well as hydropathy. FDP, 26 June, 11 September, 9 October 1851, 1 January, 12, 26 February, 25 March, 8 April, 20 May, 9 July, 15 October 1852; DouglassPapers, ser. 3, 1:582-84, 587-88, 590-92, 596, 599. .

Williston, Vt., July 20th, 1852.